ASP's Blog: (
http://autoshowcaseproject.blogspot.com/)
ASP PRESENTS:
The
369th Infantry Regiment, "
Harlem Hellfighters." They were formerly known as the 15th
New York National Guard Infantry Regiment. The history of the Harlem Hellfighters or
Harlem's
Rattlers was of a struggle from its inception, to their service overseas, to their participation in battle, and to their return home upon wars end.
CLICK HERE TO SEE
PART 2:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ57yMCesWo)
The 15th New York was created by African-American citizens wanting to serve their country. They met resistance in forming up as a
National Guard Unit due to the color of their skin; however, they received assistance from one of many supporters such as noteable
Colonel William Hayward (Col.
Hayward would command the unit during
World War 1 in
Europe). The
369th were trained rigorously and became a highly effective riflemen unit that used the 1903
Springfield rifle. Yet keep in mind during the time period, the 15th New York which then became the 369th Infantry Regiment received racial bigotry and were thought of as inferior to the white
American fighting man. That will all change once the 369th Infantry Regiment went overseas to fight.
During World War 1,
the French needed men at the front to fight the
Germans.
General Pershing gave the
French the 369th Infantry Regiment as a "throw away" and to fill their need of reinforcements. The 369th was stripped of their equipment and arms, and were supplied by the French.
Instead of wearing the adopted
Brody helmet from the
British, the 369th were given the French
Adrian helmet. They were also armed with the inferior French Berthier Rifle.
Most notable soldiers of the 369th discussed in the video are Pvt.
Henry Johnson (later Sgt. Henry Johnson) and Sgt.
William Butler. Sgt. Henry Johnson was awarded the
Medal of Honor posthumously recently in June of
2015.
The acts of the Harlem Hellfighters have been overlooked and forgotten by other notable infantry units and figures during World War 1. Their heroism, acts of valor and courage on the battlefield, and endurance through racial bigotry cannot be forgotten.
Currently, there are books that have been written on the history and accounts of the Harlem Hellfighters.
Max Brooks created an illustrated novel titled "
The Harlem Hellfighters."
SOURCES AND PICTURES USED & LISTED
The Harlem Hellfighters by Max Brooks
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harlem_Hellfighters)
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EMXBDL6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=
UTF8&btkr;=1)
Harlem's
Hell Fighters by
Stephen Harris
(http://www.stephenlharris.com/harlem_s_hell_fighters__the_african_american_369th_infantry_in_world_war_i_108584
.htm)
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007MCWICM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr;=1)
Harlem's Rattlers and the
Great War by
Jeffrey Sammons and
John Marrow Jr.
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KYYXF90/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?ie=UTF8&btkr;=1)
Woodrow Wilson picture
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File%3APresident_Woodrow_Wilson_portrait_December_2_1912
.jpg)
By
Pach Brothers, New York [
Public domain], via
Wikimedia Commons
Colonel Hayward
(http://net
.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/scott/Stn10.htm)
(http://www.speroforum.com/a/QXXWXVBZGB24/76220-Republican-William-Hayward-Commanding-Officer-of-the-Harlem-Hellfighters#.VwMCYaQrKUk)
369th Infantry Regiment
Pictures
(http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/scott/Stn10.htm)
(http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/scott/Sillus.htm)
Lieutenant Jimmie [
James Reese] Europe and his famous jazz band of the 369th [
African American]
Infa
(https://catalog.archives.gov/id/533521)
Sgt. Henry Johnson, 369th Infantry Regiment Insignia
(http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/johnson/)
Sgt. William Butler
(http://argunners.com/william-butler-deserving-the-medal-of-honor-for-wwi/)
Find a Grave
(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg
.cgi?page=gr&GRid;=6090488)
French Colonel
Linard
(http://achac.com/memoires-combattantes/les-afro-americains-sur-le-sol-de-france/)
NJACC Website:
(http://www.njacc.info/)
SUBSCRIBE HERE FOR MORE: (http://www.youtube.com/gurilla47)
FOLLOW ME ON
GOOGLE+: (https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ChrisButlerASP)
INSTAGRAM: (http://instagram.com/gurilla47#)
Thanks for watching!
Sound off in the comments below!
TAGS
Harlem Hellfighters, Harlem's Hell Fighters, Harlem's
Hellfighters, 369th Infantry Regiment, 369th Regiment, Harlem's Rattlers, 369th, 369th Harlem Hellfighters,
WW1, World War 1, african-american soldiers WW1, 15th New York, 15th NY, National Guard unit, Colonel William Hayward, Col. William Hayward, Sgt. Henry Johnson, Pvt. Henry Johnson, Henry Johnson, Medal of Honor,
Croix de Guerre,
Distinguished Service Cross, Sgt. William Butler, William Butler, racism in war, racism in the military, racism in the early
20th century, General Pershing,
General O'
Ryan,
O'Ryan's
Roughnecks,
93rd Infantry Division,
92nd Infantry Division, Max Brooks,
Battlefield 1
- published: 24 Apr 2016
- views: 3415